Improvement in gate-latches



s. RANSDELL. -La,toh.

Pat en ted Oct. 29, 1878.

.F. J. LEE

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK J. LEE JOHN S. RANSDELL, OF HARRISBURG, KENTUCKY;

- SAID RANSDELL ASSIGNOR TO SAID LEE.

lM PROVE M ENT IN GATE-LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,485, dated October29, 1878; application filed September 19, 1878.

The nature of our invention consists in the peculiar construction andarrangement of a latching device for gates, which will allow the gate tofasten automatically even should it be sagged down, as will behereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which our inventionappertains to make and use the same, we will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation.

A represents a gate, of any suitable construction, hinged to the post B,and closing against the post 0, as usual. D is a springlatch, securedrigidly to the gate at itsinner end, and the outer end left free tospring in either direction to pass the shoulders on the catch. Near itsinner end the latch passes through the staple a, which serves as afulcrum, upon which it springs.

, E represents the catch, formed with a screw on its inner end, whichentersthe post 0 or the latch may be otherwise secured therein. Near theouter end of the catch are two shoulders, e e, and beyond these thecatch is slot ted or forked, forming two arms, 0 6, between which ispivoted a friction wheel or disk, f,

' whose diameter should be a little greater than the thickness of thecatch immediately behind the-wheel, in order that the latch D may slipeasily over it. The shoulders c e are situated one on top and one on theunder side of the catch, so that in screwing it into the post 7 it doesnot matter which side may come up-- permost. Nor does it matter inoperation whether the outer end of the gate is sagged down or not, as bythe peculiar construction of the catch, as described, if the gate sags,the latch D, striking the lower part of the frictiondisk f, is sprungdown and catches behind the lower shoulder, e.

The latch is sprung back to allow the gate to open by means of theangle-lever G, pivoted to the gate above the latch, and the lower andshort arm of which is connected to the latch by a rod, g. The upper endof the lever is prevented from moving too far, and thereby injuring thespring-latch D, by means of a small guide-rod, .d, as shown, the ends ofthe rod. being secured to the gate, and the lever moving between the rodand gate.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The catch E, constructedwith shoulders e e and arms e 6, between which arms is pivoted thefriction-rollerf, for lifting or depressing the spring-latch D,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of spring-latch D, catch E, constructed withshoulders c e, and friction-roller f, pivoted vertically between arms ec, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The catch E, constructed with shoulders e e and arms 6 0, combinedwith friction-roller f, spring-latch D, lever G, and connecting-rod I g,substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we affix oursignatures in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK J. LEE. JOHN S. RANSDELL. Witnesses:

J o. (l. REVILL, LAWRENCE SANDFORD.

